6-Car Compact Sedan Showdown

In 2011, more than one in four new-car sales was a compact. That's because the segment is overflowing with stylish performers from the U.S. and abroad. For this test on the Rust Belt's highways and byways, we pitted Detroit's best—Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus, and Dodge Dart—against the world: Subaru Impreza, Mazda3, and Honda Civic.

6-Car Compact Sedan Showdown

6-Car Compact Sedan Showdown

In the wake of the massively publicized federal bailout of GM and Chrysler, American automakers emerged bruised and battered but also fiercely competitive. Just look at the current crop of compacts, a segment once dominated by a single car, the Honda Civic. That was then: Today's "American" compacts—the Chevy Cruze, Ford Focus, and Dodge Dart—are built using global expertise and must satisfy a worldwide customer base. In short, they have to be more than good; they must be excellent. And this trio has arrived just in time. In 2011, more than one in four new-car sales was a compact, and a mere six models totaled over 1 million new-car purchases. Plus, ever-rising fuel prices are only going to spur demand.

That gave us good reason to pit Detroit's finest against three great challengers—the Mazda3, the Subaru Impreza, and the Honda Civic. Does America finally have an answer to Japan's best? We hammered these six cars for a week of testing on Rust Belt highways and byways in order to find out.

2013 Dodge Dart "The Bruiser"

2013 Dodge Dart "The Bruiser"

Even though the new Dart was outgunned at the dragstrip by the lighter Ford Focus and Mazda3 (the Dart is the bruiser of the entire group, outweighing the Civic by 500 pounds), it's still a rip to drive. Credit the tiny turbocharged 160-hp 1.4-liter engine pulled right from Fiat's hot 500 Abarth. The surge of turbocharged torque throws your head back as it peaks, and you reach for the next gear. Despite the extra heft, the Dart corners with little body roll, thanks to underpinnings based on the sporty Alfa Romeo Giulietta chassis. Those European roots make the Dart (tied with the Mazda) the car we'd most like to take for a lap around a racetrack. Even electrically boosted steering didn't numb the feel. But the Dart rides more roughly over pockmarked roads than any car in our test, and it rattled over big bumps. Partial blame lies with the 45-series tires, the lowest-profile rubber of any model here. Inside, we liked the Dodge's Uconnect system and monstrously large navigation screen. When you're behind the wheel, this car feels spacious. And that's also true in the rear seats, where the Dart provided the most shoulder width of the group. (Headroom is limited, though.) The Dart requires buyers to trade comfort for sportiness—a tradeoff you might want to make, since this is the most entertaining car of the bunch.

VERDICT: Party animal Dart has a boisterous exhaust note and a punchy turbocharged engine. But the ride can get rough.